November 2021 Newsletter
WELCOME TO THE HEALTHCARE COALITION OF MAINE NEWSLETTER
OUR MISSION
The mission of the Healthcare Coalition of Maine (HCCME) is to develop and sustain a powerful coalition of health care organizations, first responders, and other key partners united to save lives and improve health outcomes during disasters through preparedness, planning, response, and recovery efforts.
UPCOMING COALITION EVENTS
Communications Planning Workshop on December 8th, from 1:30-3:30PM
Register here!
HCCME will be hosting a Communications Planning Workshop which will focus on Communications PACE planning, resources available for healthcare coalitions, and the importance of information sharing and exercising your communications plans. We are pleased to have Matt McMahon, a Disaster/Communications Specialist with the Eastern Healthcare Preparedness Coalition of North Carolina, facilitating this event. Matt provides communication support to a twenty-nine-county region and works with the Interoperable Communications Technical Assistance Program through the Department of Homeland Security.
TWO POSITIONS AVAILABLE!
All Clear Emergency Management Group is searching for a detail oriented, highly skilled and motivated Healthcare Coalition Coordinator to join our team! This position will provide coverage to the Northern Chapter by planning, implementing, and evaluating activities associated with the Coalition. Additionally, this position will recruit and maintain a diverse coalition membership with hospital, public health, emergency management, emergency medical services and other healthcare partners.
For more information, see the full job description located here. Cover letters and resumes should be submitted by email to jobs_HCCME@AllClearEMG.com.
We also continue to search for a detail oriented, highly skilled and motivated Contract Clinical Advisor to join our team! This position will serve the HCCME, by providing clinical leadership and serving as a liaison between the Coalition and medical directors/medical leadership at health care facilities, supporting entities (e.g., blood banks), and Emergency Medical Services (EMS) agencies.
For more information, see the full job description located here. Cover letters and resumes should be submitted by email to jobs+clinical@AllClearEMG.com.
Winter weather in Maine
Maine weather can be completely unpredictable.
It is important to know about the winter weather resources available to you and how best to prepare. In this HCCME document you will find links to information to help you stay safe and informed this winter.
seasonal depression
Article by Hannah Heilbrunn of VHEPC
When the weather starts changing, so can your mood. During the fall and winter months it’s not unusual for people to feel more sluggish, depressed, or even hopeless. This is a condition commonly known as Seasonal Depression. According to the Mayo Clinic, Seasonal Depression or clinically called Seasonal Affective Disorder (SAD) is defined as “a type of depression that's related to changes in seasons. Seasonal Affective Disorder (SAD) begins and ends at about the same times every year.” This phenomenon can affect anyone and has a few causes:
Circadian Rhythm Change- As the seasons change, the lower levels of light can disrupt the body’s natural clock.
Lower Melatonin Levels- The change in the season can affect melatonin levels. Melatonin is a hormone produced by the body that is responsible for the natural wake/sleep cycle.
Lower Serotonin Levels- The lack of sunshine in the fall and winter months can cause a drop in serotonin. Serotonin is a neurotransmitter that, among many things, helps stabilize a person’s mood.
While intense seasonal depression should always be treated with the help of a licensed therapist, there are several ways to combat spells of SAD. These changes can easily be incorporated into a daily routine. Below are just a few to try:
Light Therapy- Making a conscious and deliberate effort to go outside during the day and soak up the sun. In areas where sunlight is hard to come by, light boxes can be purchased. These boxes mimic natural sunlight and can be used in place of going outside.
Mindfulness and Meditation- Connecting the mind and body by meditating or journaling can be used to help relieve anxiety and stress. Even a 5-minute mediation can help combat depression.
Exercise- Moving the body is a well-known technique for improving mood. This could be as intense as a kick boxing class or as slow and calming as doing morning yoga.
By utilizing some of the tips above, seasonal depression can be easy to manage.
Partner News
maine responds: covid-19 volunteer response effort tops $1.1 Million in in-kind donations of time
Article written by Sadie Faucher, Volunteer Management Coordinator, Maine CDC
When the pandemic reached Maine back in March 2020, we knew that we needed members of our communities to come together to support Mainers. People from across this great state went to Maine Responds and updated their volunteer registrations or registered for the first time with the intent of helping.
Maine Responds volunteers have been tirelessly working in their communities to support a wide range of initiatives in response to this pandemic. Since March 2020, Maine CDC’s Maine Responds program has provided clinical and non-clinical volunteers to support a variety of functions including: Frontline Warmline, Spiritual Care Corps, contact tracing support, long-term care facility support, COVID-19 vaccination clinic support, and most recently COVID-19 testing support. Throughout the past 20 months, we have had hundreds and hundreds of volunteers across the state provide nearly 39,000 hours of their time to these efforts for a total of $1.1 million dollars of in-kind time. This is an unprecedented achievement for Maine CDC and Maine Responds.
"It’s impossible to quantify the value of the contributions that the Maine Responds program has made to our pandemic response efforts," said Dr. Nirav D. Shah, Director of the Maine CDC. "Whether through contact tracing, local community support, logistical support, and most recently as key contributors to Maine’s comprehensive vaccination efforts, our neighbors volunteering through the Maine Responds program have helped save lives and make Maine safer."
Read the full Maine Disaster Behavioral Health Fall Newsletter here.
Partner Resources
Updated COVID-19 Resources for K-12 Schools Now Available- CDC has developed a comprehensive set of Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs) about COVID-19 for School Administrators based on previously released Guidance for COVID-19 Prevention in K-12 Schools to help support a safer return to school. Topics covered in the FAQ include vaccination, masks, physical distancing, testing and screening, sports and other activities, mealtime, and ventilation. Further information can be found at the CDC Schools and Child Care Programs web page.
New International Travel System Goes into Effect November 8- On September 25, CDC issued orders to implement a new travel policy announced by the Biden-Harris administration to safely resume global travel to the United States while protecting the health and safety of Americans from COVID-19.
The Exchange: The Impact of Civil Unrest and Workplace Violence on Healthcare- One challenge that remained constant during the pandemic is violence against healthcare workers. The articles in this issue focus on three categories: healthcare preparation for and response to local civil unrest; trends, policies, and protocols related to workplace violence; and strategies for preventing and responding to violence in the emergency department.
partner trainings and webinars
Public Information in an All-Hazards Incident course
Maine Public Health Emergency Preparedness is hosting a Public Information in an All-Hazards Incident course in cooperation with Texas A&M Engineering Extension Service (TEEX) on December 14 & 15, 2021 from 8:00 AM to 4:30 PM at the Maine Principals Association 50 Industrial Drive in Augusta. Currently attendance is limited to DHHS, CDC and partner agencies, with priority given to State of Maine employees.
Contact Allan.Chrysler@maine.gov, Training and Exercise Coordinator, with any questions or to register (December 1, 2021 deadline).
All Clear Webinar Series
All Clear is offering a new series of FREE webinars to assist organizations with their emergency preparedness needs. Check out the upcoming offerings and register here. The 30- minute webinars are offered to anyone interested in taking their Emergency Preparedness Program to the next level.
Easing the Burden of Exercises - December 14, 2:00PM EST
Join us as we break down the differences between operations-based exercises and the CMS “Exercise of Choice.’ Participants will leave this webinar with a better understanding of the CMS Emergency Preparedness Exercise Requirement and best practices for meeting those requirements.
Strengthening Your Risk Assessment- January 20, 2022, 1:00PM EST
A thorough risk assessment is the cornerstone of any Emergency Preparedness or Emergency Management Program. This process can help identify your hazards, evaluate the associated impact to your organization, and help prioritize where to spend your time and energy. Join All Clear as we discuss ways to strengthen your Risk Assessment.
ASTHO- Leading with Gratitude
Thursday, November 18 from 4:00-4:45 PM EDT
Connection Information
CDC-Weekly National COVID-19 Call Series: for state, tribal, local, and territorial partners to deliver the latest information on the outbreak and U.S. preparedness efforts
Occurs every Monday from 2:00-2:45 PM EDT
Connection Information
CDC- National Call Series on COVID-19-Related Response Strategies: provides STLT partners with timely updates and peer-to-peer learning and sharing of successful response strategies.
Occurs every Thursday from 2:00-3:00 PM EDT
Connection Information
CONTACT US
Email your coalition coordinators at HCCME@AllClearEMG.com to assist you with any of your preparedness needs.
As a reminder, we recommend that you bookmark our website MaineHCCs.com and check in often as we are continually updating the calendar with meetings, trainings, and exercises!